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Ages Eligible for Study:

18 Years and older (Adult, Senior)

Sexes Eligible for Study:

Female

Accepts Healthy Volunteers:

No

Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

Written informed consent obtained prior to any study-related procedures

Age > 18 years

Histologically proven breast cancer, for which neo-adjuvant chemotherapy and trastuzumab is considered a valid therapeutic strategy.

Patients with the following TNM stages (refer to AJCC 7th Edition - Appendix M) of breast cancer are eligible:

Cardiac ejection fraction ≥ 50% as measured by echocardiogram or MUGA scan within 3 months prior to randomisation. Note that baseline and on treatment scans should be performed using the same modality and preferably at the same institution

The effects of lapatinib on the developing human foetus at the recommended therapeutic dose are unknown. For this reason, women of child-bearing potential and men must agree to use adequate contraception (non-hormonal or barrier method of birth control, abstinence or a vasectomy partner) prior to study entry and for the duration of study participation. Should a woman become pregnant or suspect she is pregnant while participating in this study, she should inform her treating physician immediately.

-If applicable, post-menopausal status will be defined as patients who are amenorrheic for > 1 year or for a shorter duration if FSH, LH and/or oestradiol levels are within the post-menopausal range

Patient is accessible and willing to comply with treatment, tissue acquisition and follow up.

Radiotherapy (Except for radiotherapy localised to radiotherapy to a primary squamous or basal cell skin cancer).

Patients with metastatic disease (M1).

Concurrent therapy with any other non-protocol anti-cancer therapy

History of any other malignancy within the past 5 years, with the exception of non-melanoma skin cancer, in situ carcinoma of the breast (ductal or lobular) or carcinoma-in-situ of the cervix.

Current therapy with any hormonal agent such as raloxifene, tamoxifen, or other selective oestrogen receptor modulators (SERMs), either for osteoporosis or prevention of breast cancer. Patients must have discontinued these agents 14 days prior to enrolment.

Any history of myocardial infarction, angina pectoris or congestive heart failure. Patients on current therapy for arrythmias are excluded. For other patients with a history of self-limiting cardiac dieases (e.g. pericarditis, temporary secondary arrythmias) more than 1 year must have past prior to enrolment on the study

The presence of any other medical or psychiatric disorder that, in the opinion of the treating physician, would contraindicate the use of the drugs in this protocol or place the patient at undue risk for treatment complications

Male patients.

Patients with known hypersensitivity to Chinese hamster ovary products or other recombinant human or humanized antibodies and/or known hypersensitivity to any of the study drugs or their ingredients (eg, polysorbate 80 in docetaxel)

Pregnant women are excluded from this study because lapatinib is member of the 4-anilinoquinazoline class of kinase inhibitors with the potential for teratogenic or abortifacient effects. Because there is an unknown but potential risk for adverse events in nursing infants secondary to treatment of the mother with lapatinib, breastfeeding should be discontinued if the mother is treated with lapatinib

HIV-positive patients receiving combination anti-retroviral therapy are excluded from the study because of possible pharmacokinetic interactions with lapatinib. Appropriate studies will be undertaken in patients receiving combination anti-retroviral therapy when indicated.